Eggs are stars of the show at this new Fort Worth gourmet breakfast sandwich restaurant
Lifelong Fort Worth residents Nick and Ana Valdez will be opening a new Effin Egg location this June, serving gourmet breakfast sandwiches and bagels in a fast casual atmosphere.
Effin Egg Fort Worth, opening at 1305 W. Magnolia Ave., will replace the now-closed Great Harvest Bread Co. There are currently three Effin Egg locations in Georgia, New York and New Jersey. Along with the first Texas Effin Egg, others are opening soon in Memphis, Kansas City, Athens, Lansing, Naperville, Northbrook and Yakima.
“We do plan to open no later than mid-June,” Nick said. For now, they’re working on obtaining permits from the city for light construction, installing some kitchen equipment and making some minor cosmetic changes including painting and indoor art that will be created by local artists.
The husband and wife duo first considered owning an Effin Egg this January, wanting to be their own bosses. Nick had previously managed Wingstop and Chicken Express locations. The Valdez couple will be working at Effin Egg Fort Worth full-time and will be hiring a few more employees.
“Born and raised in Fort Worth for both of us, we want to serve Fort Worth and be down there where everything is happening,” Nick said. “We want to be a part of that community.”
The owners say they have always had a passion for cooking, which drew them toward the restaurant industry. A love of breakfast drove them to visit Effin Egg in Decatur, Georgia, where the simplicity of the franchise got the couple on board.
“I wanted to be in Fort Worth, I wanted to be somewhere towards the center or I wanted just to be down there in the southside historic with all the art that goes on in the area, and it’s just very inviting,” Nick said.
With Ana having been a nurse for about nine years at Cook Children’s and JPS, another reason they chose the area was because of the hospital district. They see the opening as an opportunity to serve Fort Worth health care workers.
Effin Egg’s menu revolves, unsurprisingly, around eggs in various forms. The star is the egg sandwich, but the restaurant also offers breakfast bowls, breakfast tacos and breakfast burritos. For those trying Effin Egg for the first time, Nick recommends ordering The OG, the most popular menu item comprised of apple smoked bacon, over medium egg, cheddar cheese and signature Mexican sauce in a warm brioche bun.
The quality of the food is what will make the restaurant stand out to Fort Worth residents, Nick says. That includes using high quality ingredients such as sauces made in-house on a daily basis and brisket slow-roasted for seven hours.
“Our overall vision for the restaurant is to provide lasting experiences for customers through serving the highest quality ingredient breakfast sandwiches in a friendly, comfortable and effing inviting atmosphere,” he said.
This story was originally published April 26, 2023 at 2:42 PM.
